Missing middle- Arlington

[Anonymous]

Not sure if I missed this before but a bunch of the applications are listed as being rejected.

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/EHO/Tracker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if I missed this before but a bunch of the applications are listed as being rejected.

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/EHO/Tracker

if I had to guess, developers are probably getting tripped up on setbacks. I doubt it tips any of these projects into uneconomical to build though

[Anonymous]

I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Tracker update today shows a lot of 6-plexes -- including two that appear to be next door to each other. I project parking challenges!

There is already construction at or near that location on 7th St S. I wonder if they were originally planning on SFHs and are pausing now. There is plenty of off street parking near that block.

Two sixplexes is 12 units, obvioulsy. Twelve units occupied by at least two people is 24 cars.

Twenty four cars avergang 15 feet long is 360 feet. Thats a 1.2 football fields. Good luck finding that much parking.

The plexes will be rentals so may have fewer cars, particularly if a non profit buys them and makes them affordable

What nonprofit is buying and developing land? Even the big affordable housing developers have to redevelop land they already own and get financing and loans just to do so.

Arlington's Alliance for Housing Solutions is working with Habitat for Humanity to develop Missing Middle housing in Arlington. They are not developing land, they are developing tear down lots. It is very expensive to develop vacant lots for residences in Arlington because they generally have no impervious surfaces and need much more expensive storm water management.

Which tear downs have they purchased for MM housing?

None. AHS is working with Habitat. Do you think things like this happen overnight? It will take years, but they are trying to make a difference for all the single moms who need housing in Arlington and can't afford it. Arlington should not just be for people with husbands.

That's what Section 8 vouchers are for. If these "single moms" are truly financially deserving, they should qualify for a voucher. Can't say that I understand the logic of spending $850K for a teardown lot, then at least another $1 million in construction costs, so that maybe 6 "single moms" can get a unit in a brand new six-plex.

Try getting a landlord to rent to a single mom with a Section 8 voucher.

This is NOT what missing middle is supposed to fix. You’re dreaming if you think this housing will be less expensive than what’s already available in Arlington.

Take your misogyny and GO.

DP I think that poster was referring to Habitat for Humanity partnering with a non-profit to build six plexes. One of the points of the expanded housing options was to build different types of housing, and there are few -- if any -- six plexes in Arlington. It a non-profit is involved, presumably the units would be either subsidized for rent or for sale. Agree that the market rate housing being built will not be affordable

While six-plexes are not common it seems like these would generally be 1-bedroom units. There are plenty of 1-bedroom apartments in Arlington. That is definitely not a "missing" housing type.

A builder is building a 6 plex next to our house that will have five 3 bed apartments and one 1 bed apartment. He said there is a big demand for 3 bed rentals because most big buildings have only a few 3 bed apartments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

I don’t really care about Rt 50 because it wasn’t going to turn over into anything else. I would rather see them build high rises on Rt 50 and leave the cute little neighborhoods alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

I don’t really care about Rt 50 because it wasn’t going to turn over into anything else. I would rather see them build high rises on Rt 50 and leave the cute little neighborhoods alone.

Sure, that's gonna happen This County Board leans very progressive and they will not stop overdeveloping b/c all they see is $$$. Wake up.

[Anonymous]

We live in SA and have a SFM next to a 2 apartment home. It was modified into apartments. They have a driveway. It’s fine. There are already duplexes and 6 pkexes around town except for North NA. I support building them there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

I don’t really care about Rt 50 because it wasn’t going to turn over into anything else. I would rather see them build high rises on Rt 50 and leave the cute little neighborhoods alone.

Sure, that's gonna happen This County Board leans very progressive and they will not stop overdeveloping b/c all they see is $$$. Wake up.

I just don’t think it’s a big deal to develop Rt 50 as a high-density corridor, as long as they add sidewalks and bus stops. I’m ambivalent about bike lanes because they are barely used, in my observation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

I don’t really care about Rt 50 because it wasn’t going to turn over into anything else. I would rather see them build high rises on Rt 50 and leave the cute little neighborhoods alone.

Sure, that's gonna happen This County Board leans very progressive and they will not stop overdeveloping b/c all they see is $$$. Wake up.

I just don’t think it’s a big deal to develop Rt 50 as a high-density corridor, as long as they add sidewalks and bus stops. I’m ambivalent about bike lanes because they are barely used, in my observation.

If you think that development will only be "along the corridor" you are not paying close enough attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am more concerned with the little skyscraper city that is developing in Rosslyn than I am about MMH tbh.

What worries you about it? I would like to see them keep as many people down there as possible because Rosslyn has a good little transit center with the metro, and the busses, including the only DC Circulator stop in Arlington. And people can walk across the bridge to DC (and they do). I would rather see them concentrate density there than keep bringing it up the corridor.

B/c it's not just in Rosslyn anymore. Drive out Rt. 50 and see what they are building as you head toward Courthouse and Clarendon. They aren't going to stop expanding - not this County Board anyway.

I don’t really care about Rt 50 because it wasn’t going to turn over into anything else. I would rather see them build high rises on Rt 50 and leave the cute little neighborhoods alone.

Sure, that's gonna happen This County Board leans very progressive and they will not stop overdeveloping b/c all they see is $$$. Wake up.

I just don’t think it’s a big deal to develop Rt 50 as a high-density corridor, as long as they add sidewalks and bus stops. I’m ambivalent about bike lanes because they are barely used, in my observation.

If you think that development will only be "along the corridor" you are not paying close enough attention.

Where are you going with this? You think they shouldn’t allow high rises on a legitimate highway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

The hood wearers are currently living in Arlington. Why else is there an apartheid wall at 17th St that divides a black neighborhood from a white neighborhood. Arlington’s black population is now at a low of 9% and will continue as Black neighborhoods are gentrified with EHO housing and other development.

Arlington pushed aside Plan Langston Blvd that would have added 1500 needed affordable housing units in favor of EHO housing that will be fir affluent renters and owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

Also, being liberal isn’t the issue. The YIMBYs aren’t really progressive in a way that matters.

Lots of us are pragmatic liberals that are against a Reagan-style deregulation of zoning. In Montgomery County you can already rent out your pool or office space in a private home…I can’t wait I til they allow for building a six plex next door with a rental pool and no required parking. A real fantasy land.